Compact forced-air heater



June 28, 1949. w. c. PARRISH 2,474,637

COMPACT FORCED-AIR HEATER Filed July 7, 1944 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 28,1949. w, C. PARRIS 2,474,687

COMPACT FORCED-AIR HEATER Filed July 7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wag w:

Patented June 28, 1949 b COMPACT FORCED-AIR HEATER William 0. Parrish,Park Ridge, n1., assiglior to Stewart-Warner Corporation, Chicago, 111.,a corporation of Virginia Application July 7, 1944, Serial No. 548,822

3 Claims. (Cl. 126-110) 1 The present invention relates generally toheating apparatus, and moreparticuiarly to improvements in gaseous orvaporized liquid fuel burners combined with heat exchange means.

An object of the present invention is to provides new and improved unittype heater using a gaseous vaporizableliquid as a source of fuel, andmore specifically, a heater of this character wherein combustion takesplace in a stationary unit serving also as aheat exchanger.

Another object of the. present invention is to provide a new andimproved unit heater which is compact and which may beconstructedreadily and economically. i i

. A further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved combined combustion chamber and heat exchanger which ischaracterized particularly by its compactness.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a unit type heaterincluding a single motor concentrically located relative to a combinedcombustion chamber and heat exchanger and adapted to supply combustionair to the heat exchanger and to create a flow of air past the heatexchanger, and, more specifically, also to create a flow of cooling airpast the motor.

A further and more specific object of the present invention is toprovide a new and improved heater which may readily be located in an outof the way place in an automobile or other vehicle, as under thedriver's seat, and which is capable of supplying heated air in aplurality of directions relative to the seat, as both in front of and tothe rear of the seat.

A. further object of the present invention is to provide new andimproved-heating apparatus adapted to discharge heated air over a majorportion of its periphery, and, more specifically, an apparatus whereinthe air enters the apparatus axially and is discharged generallyradially outward past a heat exchanger.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the ensuing description, in the course of which referenceis had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of heatingapparatus'constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, also partly broken away in order better toillustrate certain structural details thereotof the apparatusillustrated in Fig. 1, the view being taken in the direction of line 22of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional viewthrough theheating apparatus, the view being taken along the line 1-4 of Fig. 1;and Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the heatingapparatus, the view being taken along the broken line 4-4 of F18. 2. i

The heating apparatus of the present invention is of the unit type usinga gaseous vaporizable liquid as a source of fuel and it is characterizedby its compact construction and the utilization of a single centrallylocated motor for the purposes of supplying combustion air to thecombustion chamber, for creating a flow of the medium to be heated,'suchas air, past the heat exchanger, and of effecting the flow of air pastthe motor to cool it The embodiment of the invention illustrated inFigs. 1 to 4, inclusive, is adapted apecially for installation under thefront seat of an automobile or other vehicle. It takes up but littlespace and is constructed and arranged to effect a distributed flow ofheated air to both the front and rear of the seat. r

The heater unit, which is indicated. generally and as a whole byreference character II, is adapted to be supported underneath the frontseat of a vehicle (not shown). Ifdesired, it may be readily supported inthis location upon the floor l2 of the vehicle which, for purpose ofdescription, will be assumed to be the floor of an automobile.

The heater unit includes what may be termed a combined combustionchamber and heat exchanger, indicated as a whole by reference characterII. It is ofcompact construction and may be seen to include an annularsingle convolution coil l6, which may be made of stainless steel oraluminized iron tubing and which may have a diameter of approximatelyone and one-half inch. A burner l8, preferably of the wick type, islocated at one end of the tube It so that the flame from the burnerpasses around the tube and the products of combustion pass out through agenerally downwardly extending exhaust connection 20 extending below thefloor of the vehicle through a suitable gland structure 22 secured tothe floor and encircling the exhaust connection.

The burner 18 is supplied with liquid vaporizable fuel through a conduit24 and metering orifice defining structure 25 (see Fig. 3) or the likeconnected to a suitable liquid fuel reservoir (not shown) whereby liquidfuel is supplied to a wick 26. which may be made of material such asglass wool. The wick is kept in lace at the burner end by a screen,inverted, cup-like covering 28 and a closure cap 30 which may besecured, as by welding, to the end of the tube l6. Theburner includesfuel vaporizing means, such as a centrally located igniter 32 extendingthrough the wick material and held in place by a. stud-like terminal 34through which electrical 3 current is supplied to the igniter by aconductor l6.

The burner, fuel and igniter controls may be of conventional type andthey have, therefore, not been illustrated. It is believed sufficient tosay that the burner may be supplied with fuel and the igniter energizedwhen desired, and so arranged that the igniter willbe deenergized if theapparatus has been in operation for a length of time sufllcient to heatthe surrounding parts to a temperature suflicient adequately tovaporcentral annular inwardly'extending flange It at ize the fuelsupplied to the wick and to support combustion.

Combustion air is supplied to the cornbined and in contact with the unitby sultableaircirculating means, such as a pair of blowers or fans,centrally or concentrically located relative to the unit and driven by asingle motor which is also centrally or concentrically located relativeto the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger, blowers and motor are alllocated in substantially the same plane thereby to provide a compactconstruction.

Referring again to the drawings, it may be noted that the motor I. is acomparatively small and flat electric motor, It is mounted with itsshaft 42 located vertically and substantially centrally of the tubularcoil it.

The flow of combustion air to the combustion chamber is effected by aradial vane type blower 44 secured to the lower end of the motor shaftl2 and immediately adjacent the lower end of the motor by securing means48 which may take the form of a hub and bolt.

The air to be heated enters the heater axially thereof and is dischargedgenerally radially outward over substantially the full periphery of theheater. It is circulated past and in contact with Y the heat exchangertube It by a sirocco blower 5. located concentrically relative to themotor and between the motor and the coil. It is secured to the upper endof shaft 42 by a flanged, generally cup-shaped support, indicated as awhole by reference character 52, including a horizontal portion lladjacent the upper end of the motor, a downwardly extending portion 56adjacent the periphery of the'motor and a flanged horizontally extendingportion II, to the outer edges of which are curved to be concentric tothe tube I, as indicated by reference character 60, and terminate ingenerally horizontal peripheral flanges ll, whereby the plates may besecured to each other and to the tube It in a simple manner by aplurality of angular spaced apart bolts 12.

In order that the plates 64 and 66 may be secured to the tube ll so asnot to impede the flow of air past the tube and so that air may be:directed over substantially the entire periphery of the heater unit, theplates are Supplied with a plurality of relatively short and narrowangularly spaced apart inwardly extending grooves 14 engaging onlylimited portions of the outer surface of the tube when the plates aresecured to the tube.

The inlet for the air to be heated is located at the upper end of themotor and is deflned by a the periphery of an aperture in the upperplate 64. In order to prevent foreign material from passing through theheater, the inlet may be covered by a suitable screen 18.

The motor is supported by the lower plate 66 which has a centralupwardly extending annular flange secured; as by welding, to the motorframe. The motor is spaced a short distance from the rotatable blowersupport 52 to provide a passage for air to flow past and to cool themotor. The cooling air is caused to flow past the motor by the siroccotype blower III, the air entering the vicinity of the motor through aplurality of apertures; 82 formed in the horizontal upper portion ll ofthe blower support, contacting the upper end of themotor, flowingdownwardly between the motor and vertical portion 58 of the blowersupport, and finally reuniting with the main stream of air flowing pastthe heat exchanger tube IG through the'spacebetween the lower plate 66and the flanged portion 50 of the blower support.

The apparatus as a whole is supported on the floor of the vehicle by agenerally cup-shaped support 84 forming also a part of the combustionair blower housing. An upper horizontal peripheral flange '6 of the supprt It is secured, as by bolts, to the lower plate It and the support 84is secured to the floor by a suitable securing and sealing structureindicated generally by reference character 81, which may take formsotherthan that specifically illustrated.

Combustion air is supplied through an intake conduit 88 extendingunderneath the floor of the vehicle and connected to the central portionof the combined support and blower casing It. Combustion air thus flowsaxially upwardly through the conduit 88 to the blower and thence to thecombustion chamber through a generally radial conduit 90 leading fromthe outer peripheral portion of the combustion air blower casing to anoutlet opening 92 in the combined combus tion chamber and heatexchanger. The opening O2 is preferably located a short distance abovethe wick type burner and is so disposed that the combustion air entersthe tube It generally tangentially as best illustrated in Fig. 4.

From the foregoing detailed description of the unit type heater of thepresent invention, it may be noted that the device is compact, simple inconstruction, and may be readily assembled. In addition it may be easilyinstalled wherever desired and it is particularly suitable forinstallation in out of the way places, especially underneath thedriver's seat of an automobile where it directs heated air both to thefront and rear of the seat. 7

In operation, the air to be heated is made to flow past the heatexchanger by the sirocco type blower I. The air flows into the heaterunit from the space to be heated axially downward through the inletdefined, by the flanged opening It. The air is forced radially outwardin all directions by the blower and contacts substantially the entireperipheral surface of. the combined combustion chamber and heatexchanger. The heated air is also distributed over a wide area becauseit is discharged horizontally and radially outward over substantiallythe entire periphery of the heater.

Combustion air is supplied to the combustion chamber by the blower It.This air is taken from outside the vehicle through the axial downwardlyextending inlet conduit 88 and flows through i a a conduit 90 and outlet92 to the interior oi. the tube ll, it being directed tangentially andslightly upwardly therein.

During operation a metered amount of liquid fuel issuppliedto the burnerwick 26 through the inlet orifice structure fls The fuel is initiallyvaporized by the electricallyenergized igniter 32. The vaporized fuel isignited andthe flame extends irom the combustion chamber end 01 the tubetoward the other end and heats the tube so that the air coming intocontact with the exterior of the tube is heated. The igniter maybeturned oil, after the apparatus has been in operation for some time. Themotor 40 is cooled during operation by the air flowing past it throughopenings in the blower support 52. l

The present invention is not limited to the precise details of. thesingle embodiment of the invention described in detail above. Rather, itis contemplated that the principles of the present invention may beembodied in structures other than that specifically illustrated anddescribed.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patentis:

1. An internal combustion heater comprising in combination means forminga tubular arcuate C-shaped combination combustion chamber and heatexchanger, said c-shaped heat exchanger having an exhaust opening at onetip thereof, wall forming means sealing the opposite tip of saidC-shaped combination combustion chamber and heat exchanger, saidcombustion chamber being located adjacent said wall forming means, aburner located in said combustion chamber adjacent said wall formingmeans, means including an inlet duct for supplying combustionair to saidburner, means for supplying fuel to said burner, a removable ignitersupported by said wall forming means, said combination combustionchamber and heat exchanger defining a to said combination combustionchamber and heat exchanger and extending into the space encircledthereby, ventilating air circulating means axially disposed with respectto said power means and connected on one side thereof to be driventhereby, a combustion air circulating means on the other side of saidpower means and connected to be driven thereby for causing combustionair to flow through said inlet duct to said burner and said combustionchamber, and a generally circular housing enclosing said combinationcombustion chamber and heat exchanger, said power means, saidventilating air circulating, means and said combustion air circulatingmeans, said housing having an axially disposed inlet adjacent saidventilating air circulating means through which ventilating air is drawnand having a peripheral outlet adjacent and substantially coextensive ofsaid combined combus tion chamber and heat exchanger, said housingincluding means for directing cool ventilating air around said powermeans and against said combined combustion chamber and heat exchangerand warm ventilating air outwardly through said peripheral outlet.

2. An internal combustion heater comprising in combination means forminga tubular arcuate C-shaped combination combustion chamber and heatexchanger, said c-shaped heat exchanger having an exhaust opening at onetip thereof,

to saidburner, means jor, supplying fuel to sa'id burner-pan igniterhaving its igniting end adjacent said burnerflsuiq mlnbinationcombustion chamber and heat exshanger denmn a closed arcuate shapedpass'ageway froma's'aidr bumeriito said exhaust outlet for thearcuate-flow of burni ing gases and the products of combustion, anelectric motor located centrally with respect to said combinationcombustion chamber and heat exchanger and extending into the spaceencircled thereby, ventilating air circulating means axially disposedwith respect to said electric motor and connected on one side thereof tobe driven thereby, a combustion air circulating means on the other sideof said electric motor and connected to be driven thereby for causingcombustion air to flow through said inlet duct to said burner and saidcombustion chamber, and a, generally circular housing enclosing saidcombination combustion chamber and heat exchanger, said power means,said ventilating air circulating means and said combustion aircirculating means, said housing having an inletadjacent said ventilatingair circulating means through which ventilating air is drawn and havinga peripheral outlet adjacent and substantially coextensive of saidcombined combustion chamber and heat exchanger, said housing includingmeans for directing cool ventilating air against said combinedcombustion chamber and heat exchanger and warm ventilating air outwardlythrough said peripheral outlet.

3. An internal combustion heater comprising in combination means forminga tubular arcuate C-shaped combination combustion chamber and heatexchanger. said O-shaped heat exchanger having an exhaust opening at onetip thereof. wall forming means sealing the opposite tip 01' saidC-shaped combination combustion chamber and heat exchanger, saidcombustion chamber being located adjacent said wall forming means, aburner structure located in said combustion chamber contiguous with saidwall forming means, means including an inlet duct for supplyingcombination air to said burner, means for supplying fuel to said burner,an igniter mounted in said wall forming means and having its ignitingend disclosed centrally of said burner structure, said combinationcombustion chamber and heat exchanger defining a closed arcuate shapedpassageway from said burner to said exhaust outlet for the arcuate flowof burning gases and the products of combustion, an electric motorlocated centrally with respect to said combination combustion chamberand heat exchanger and extending into the space encircled thereby,ventilating air circulating means axially dis posed with respect to saidelectric motor. and connected on one side thereof to be driven thereby,a combustion air circulating means on the other side of said electricmotor and connected to be driven thereby for causing combustion air toflow through said inlet duct to said burner and said combustion chamber,and a generally circular housing enclosing said combination combustionchamber and heat exchanger, said power means, said ventilating aircirculating means and 7 said combustion air circulating means, saidhousin; having an inlet through which' ventilating air isdrawn andhaving a peripheral outlet adiacent and substantially coextensive ofsaid combinetl combustion chamber and heat exchanger. said housingincluding means fordirecting cool ventilating air against said combinedcombustion chamber and heat exchanger and warm ventilating air outwardlythrough said peripheral outlet.

' WILLIAM C. PARRIBH.

mar-mayors crrnn The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

8 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Miner Jan. 5, 1926 Child July12, 1938 Karsel July 11, 1939 Meek Mar. 26, 1940 Black July 16, 1940Findley Mar. 25, 1941 Darrahet; a1 July 22, 1941 Findley Feb. 8, 1942Hess et a1, Mar. 16, 1943 Ryden July 20, 1943 Onishi'et al Oct. .17,1944 Hess et a1 Dec. 6, 1944 Hess et 91'. NOV. 13, 1945

